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What futuristic technology featured in Government Technology in 2012 has finally arrived?

Answer: glow-in-the-dark roads

by News Staff
/
April 21, 2014

Studio Roosegaarde

A stretch of highway in the Netherlands has brought a design team’s vision to life -- a “Route 66 of the future.” Not all of the firm's ideas have been implemented, but road markings are now imbued with photo-luminescent powder – they collect energy from light and glow in the dark.

Other ideas for the road not yet implemented include dynamic lighting that turns off when unneeded, symbols that appear in the road to warn of conditions like black ice, and lights that harness wind generated by passing vehicles to gain power. An additional “induction priority lane” for electric cars would use underground induction coils to charge vehicles as they drive down the lane.